STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview

STARLIGHT UNBOUND

handle the upload once we ’re inside. Corin will monitor from here and guide us through comms. ”

Harun raised an eyebrow, glancing at Lucien. “You sure you’re up for this? If the upload goes south, we ’re screwed.”

“I’ll handle it.”

Harun nodded, though skepticism lingered in his eyes.

Lyra leaned in, her tone firm. “This isn’t going to be like the terminal. The relay is the heart of the system —they’ll throw everything they have at us if they catch wind of what we’re doing. We stick to the plan. No improvising.”

“No pressure, right?” Corin’s voice was dry.

The enormity of the mission settled in. Harun voiced concerns about the timing, suggesting they wait for a quieter moment. Corin countered, arguing that waiting would only give the Order more time to strengthen their defenses.

Lucien sat silently, his thoughts swirling with flashes of the erased charts and the cold efficiency of AstroSYS.

When Harun’s voice rose, Lyra cut through it with a sharp look. “We don’t have time to argue. We move tonight. ”

Lucien ’s voice was quiet but resolute. “She’s right. The longer we wait, the harder this gets. We have to do it now. ”

Harun sighed. “Fine. But if this goes sideways, I’m blaming you.”

As the group scattered to gather their gear, Harun approached Lucien, nudging his shoulder. “You’re full of surprises, you know that? Didn’t think you ’d stick with this for as long as you have.”

Lucien smirked faintly, his voice dry. “Neither did I.”

Harun grinned but didn’t push further. The moment of levity was short-lived, but it was enough to ease some of the tension in the air.

***

The central relay stretched out before them, a massive, sleek structure that pulsed with energy. AstroSYS was louder here, vibrating through the air like a heartbeat, a steady, oppressive drum that resonated deep in Lucien ’s bones.

The group crouched near the outer access hatch, their breaths quiet and measured. Lyra motioned for Harun to move first, whispering, “Go. Disable the first monitor. ”

Harun nodded, slipping through the narrow hatch. Lucien followed close behind, his heart pounding in his ears. The corridor was narrower than he expected, the walls lined with cables and control panels that pulsed in sync

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